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mitted the whole buſineſs unto me; I read it over very exactly, and took notes of the moft remarkable paffages (as they appeared unto me) truly I was so much confirmed in this firft opinion by my fecond reading, that I fhall not be afraid to profef's that I never gave more credit to any Humane Hiftory of former times. All things feemed unto me fo fimply, and yet fo accurately, and with fo much confirmation of all manner of circumftances written and delivered, that I cannot yet fatisfie my felf, but all judicious Readers will be of my opinion. But nevertheless, to help them that truft not much to their own judgments, let us fee what can be faid.
First, I would have them, that would be further latisfied, to read Dr. Dee in that forecited Preface, where he doth plead his own caufe, to acquit himself of that grievous crime and imputation of a Conjurer. But that was written, I muſt confefs, long before his Communication with Spirits: yet it is fomewhat to know what opinion he had then of them that deal with Divels and evil Spirits. But after he was made acquainted, and in great dealings with them, and had in readiness divers of theſe his books, or others of the fame Argument, containing their feveral conferences and communications, to fhew, and the manner of their appearing exactly fet down; obferve, I pray, with what confidence he did addrefs himfelf to the greateft and wifeft in Europe. To Queen Elizabeth often, and to her Council, as by many places of this Relation doth appear; but more particularly by his Letter to Sir Francis Walfingham, Secretary, &c. That he did the like to King James and his Councel, may eafily be gathered by the Records (in this Relation) of 1607. but much defective. But then to the Emperor Rodolphe, to Stephen King of Poland, and divers other Princes and their Deputies; the wifeft and learnedft, their feveral Courts did afford for the time: the particulars of all which addreffes and tranfactions are very exactly fet down in the book. Nay, fuch was his confidence, that had it not been for the Nuncius Apoftolicus his appearing against him at the Emperors Court by order from the Pope, he was, as by fome places may be collected, refolved for Rome alfo, not doubting but he should approve himſelf and his doings to the Pope himſelf and his Cardinals. In thefe his addreffes and applications being ftill very ready to impart all things unto them that would entertain them with that refpect he thought they deferred; yea, readily, which is very obfervable, even to receive them into this Myftical Society, whom he thought worthy, and in fome capacity to promote the defign; as de facto he did divers in feveral places: Albertus Alafco, Prince Palatine of Polonia, Puccius a learned man, and Prince Rofemberg in Germany, who were long of the Society, befides fome admitted to fome Actions for a while, as Stephen King of Poland, and fome others. We will eafily grant (as elſewhere hath been treated and handled at large) that a diftempered brain may fee, yea, and hear ftrange things, and entertain them with all poffible confidence, as real things, and yet all but fancy, without any real found or Apparition. But thefe fights and Apparitions that Dr. Dee gives here an account, are quite of another nature; yea, though poffibly the Divel might reprefent divers of theſe things to the fancy inwardlywhich